He was leaving his Design Mechanics class, notebook pressed to his chest, head down, when too familiar a voice disrupted the corridor.

“Ji-Hoon?”

He froze.

Slowly, hesitantly, he raised his

And there he was.

Seung-Hwan.

Hair slightly longer, eyes slightly colder. But irrefutable.

Ji-Hoon's chest constricted like a hand closing around his lungs.

"Didn't know you'd show up here," said Seung-Hwan with a bitter- edged smile. "Small world, then?"

Ji-Hoon was silent. Breathless.

"Heard you made it into Haneul," said Seung-Hwan nonchalantly. "Didn’t expect them to still hire you after what happened last year. Guess people do give second chances."

Ji-Hoon clutched his notebook tightly. His throat was on fire with the urge to raise his voice, scream, run.

But did not speak a word.

He spun and walked away.

---

That evening, Ji-Hoon did not visit the library.

He didn’t eat dinner.

He was on the bed with knees up against the chest, eyes open in the darkness, and his heart replaying every word Seung-Hwan had ever said to crush him.

Confused. Desperate.

He built walls. Fortresses. Vowed never to open himself up once again.

And now Seung-Hwan was here.

Smiling like nothing ever did happen. Like Ji-Hoon was still the spirit of a lad he’d buried.

---

He visited the library corner the following evening.

Min-Soo was waiting already—was always waiting.

But when they saw Ji-Hoon’s pale face, things did change.

"What did happen?" he asked quietly and seriously.

Ji-Hoon sat down unsteadily. "He's

Min-Soo bladed.

“Seung-Hwan.”

Min-Soo scowled. "You saw him?"

Ji-Hoon nodded. "He behaved as if nothing ever did occur. As if we were just old friends passing by each other."

Min-Soo remained silent, his jaw locked.

Ji-Hoon shook. “I thought I was done with it. I thought I'd gotten past it. But just seeing him. it made me feel helpless and sixteen all over again.”

Min-Soo drew closer but did not touch him. "Do you want me to talk to him?"

"No," he said hastily. "No scenes. No attention. Please."

Min-Soo nodded. "Okay. Then I won't"

Ji-Hoon laid his head back against the shelf and closed his eyes. “I loathe the way that he still has power over me.”

Min-Soo's voice was soft. "He doesn’t. Not now. You are not the one he hurt."

Ji-Hoon came awake.

"You're not alone this time," said Min-Soo.

Silence.

Then, carefully, Ji-Hoon laid his head on Min-Soo’s shoulder.

Min-Soo didn’t move. Didn’t inhale deeply. Just simply sat there and let Ji-Hoon sit quietly.

And finally, after days, Ji-Hoon was allowed to take a deep breath.

---

Later, in the quiet of his room, Ji-Hoon inscribed in his notebook:

> It came back. but this time, I had somebody standing in the door.